A/N: This will be a sort of long introduction, but here goes:
I've been playing World of Warcraft for some time now, at least a year, possibly a year and a half. As I journey through the world on my many alts, I often get ideas for little mini stories, flashes of character moments. Sometimes, questing alongside those of the other faction, I wonder how it would be if we could interact more than just an emote; would there verbal abuse, or friendly small talk before we both went on our way, two adventurers out in the world trying to grow stronger and NOT die too often.
Finally, I sat down and started writing out one mini-story, then stopped, because the multitude of characters I'd created seemed overwhelming. They still are. However, I once again picked up the story, and wrote out a general plotline, trying to keep track of the characters. And trying to make sure they fit into the lore in some way; I haven't played the other Warcraft games, however, I do spend hours at story isn't about epic battles against Illidan or armies descending into Molten Core to defeat a powerful elemental lord. It isn't about characters starting as low levels and working their way up to great heroes. It's about the connections to other people we make in our adventures. It's about the choices we make, and the friendships or enemies we make. It shows that those of differing races can get along, and that we try to get by, dealing with hardships, whether it's that annoying mob, or the prejudice towards our race. It's also about how our actions and the people around us can change us, from the lone hunter, stoically facing the world with naught but an animal by their side becoming more open towards working with others, to a young mage learning to be strong in a difficult world.
The characters don't change the Horde vs. Alliance standpoint. They don't stop the Burning Legion, or destroy the Scourge. They don't heal the land from the corruption twisting it. They aren't epic, legendary, uberly awesome heroes. They're the everyday adventurers, strong in their own right, making their way through the world and forging friendships along the way.
I can't promise to update this frequently; history has shown I often forget, or get distracted. I can't promise that each chapter will be the same length. Many chapters deal with different characters (some which are based on in game friends and my own alts, others created randomly), seeming like a collection of short stories; I promise, they eventually interact with each other. I can say that I do have plans for the story, and that I at least have chapters ready and waiting to be posted later. I can't promise to exactly portray each class, and race perfectly, as I'm still learning how each class works, and the personalities of the differing races.
I do hope the story is enjoyed, and that you smile, laugh, or feel in some (positive) way for the story. Please, let me know how you feel towards it, as such helps me grow as an author. So, without further ado, I give you, The Bonds We Make. Read... Review... Enjoy.
Edit: Forgot that after posting, I'd edited the inconsistency with the "I'm a mage" ... "How'd you know I was a mage?" thing, then didn't repost the edited. Fixed now, or at least it should be.
The Bonds We Make
Capture: Lena and Jang'Ai
Creeping past the trees, Lena stopped to stare at the river in front of her. She'd heard the running water, and after having killed that spider back there, she felt like she could use a good bath. Especially with the blood and spider ichor now covering her; she felt gross, and her robes torn. Approaching the river, she glanced around her. No creatures. No elemental beings tainted and ready to attack. No one around but her, and the water. Still, she bit her lip, debating. Should she bathe now? Or should she wait until she headed back to Astranaar?
Deciding to bathe first, she slipped off her robe and stepped into the water. It was cold, and sent shivers up and down her body, but it was so nice to take a bath, even a cold one. She began washing off the grime from her battles with the wild creatures of the forest, relishing being clean again. It was one thing she missed about being in a town or city, versus the adventuring out in the middle of nowhere; she had more opportunities to clean herself when in civilized places.
So absorbed in her bathing, Lena failed to notice that she was being watched.
Jang'Ai had been passing by, heading back to the post after aiding a friend, when he heard movement. Stopping, he paused to look around and saw human footprints in the soft forest ground.. That gave him pause, especially with how close to the Horde outpost he was. Humans shouldn't be so close, unless they were spying or causing trouble for his allies.
Glancing at the red raptor next to him, he slowly crept forward towards the river, following the tracks. He stopped abruptly at the sight before him: A young female bathing in the river, her nubile form barely hidden beneath the water. Her back was to him, and she seemed absorbed in washing her dark hair, and he moved forward, grabbing the bag and discarded robe he saw on the ground. Backing up to the trees again, he hid behind them and waited.
Refreshed and clean, Lena walked to the shore, then came to a halt as she saw her robe was gone. Her eyes widened and she frantically looked up and down the river bank searching for it. Where had it gone? Had an animal ran off with it? Or, worse, was she not alone, and someone had watched her? Hesitantly stepping out of the river, she started for the trees, still looking. It wasn't until she suddenly found herself frozen in place, frost covering her, that she realized she'd walked into a trap. A tall troll stepped out from the trees, looking down at her. Were she able to move, she'd have screamed.
The troll pulled rope out from his own bag, and walked towards her. Canceling the trap's affects, he immediately tied her up, before she was able to fire off a spell. She immediately began struggling and writhing to try and free herself from the rope, but he had made the knots too strong; he obviously knew what he was doing.. Taking her over to a tree, he forced her down and tied her to the tree as well. Again she struggled, and again she was unable to get free.
Stepping back to admire his handiwork, Jang'Ai knelt down and began going through her bag. Some gold coins, but very few. Food, water, both radiating magic; obviously conjured, not bought. An extra robe, a blanket and other essential camping supplies, a few pieces of metal armor, likely picked up from creatures in the forest, some meat, and some cloth.. Not much worth taking, aside from the gold coins and the armor, which might sell. Along with a dirty and torn robe he'd found near the bag, there was also a wooden staff, likely her weapon. Little help it had been.
He set the bag down and looked at her, noting the fear and anger in her pale blue eyes, and that she was shivering. Whether from the cold or her nudity, he wasn't sure, but he tossed the blanket over her to allow her some modesty. She blushed, and he grinned. So young and new, she probably was. Yet, what was she doing out here, far from the Alliance towns? Was she spying? She was too weak, he felt, to be any threat should she dare attack,. But scouting out information, she could very well be doing. She could be a skilled spy behind that pale, innocent face. He snorted; yeah right. She looked too scared and naive to be a spy, and a good spy wouldn't have been caught bathing like that. Or been foolish enough to try.
Still, he would have to question her, and then decide what to do with her. "Wat you be doing out here, girlie?" he asked her. In Common. She looked surprised that he spoke, but then again, most thought his race to be too savage or barbaric to be capable of speech. Especially the arrogant humans.
"I... I was just... just bathing..." she said, her voice shaking. He shook his head.
"Nah, watcha be doin' out in dis part of Ashenvale?" he clarified. She blinked, and frowned.
"E-explorng the forest... and... and I was heading out to... to investigate the demons, southeast of here..." she replied, looking unsure. He frowned at her. Exploring or scouting? And why would such an innocent girl like her be sent out to check out the demons of Felfire Hill? She looked barely strong enough to take on the wolves, bears, and spiders of the forest, much less the demons.
"Why ya be explorin', girlie?" he asked.
"Cause I wanted to see what's out here. I like to learn and know things. I was learning about the forest," she said, and now she sounded angry. He laughed.
"Witout an elf ta guide an' protect ya? Ya be a fool, girlie," he told her. She glared at him.
"I don't... don't need someone to guide or protect me. I can protect myself, Troll. I'm not a fool, and stop calling me girlie. I have a name," she said. He laughed again, and shook his head.
"Oh yeah, ya protected yaself real good to be caught bathing in da river, and so close to Splintertree Post, girlie. Ya must be a fool... or real naïve," he said. "And I dun care about ya name, I won't be knowing ya long enough for it to matter," he added. Standing and walked to the river, he looked down into it. A bath actually wouldn't be too bad right now, and it was getting dark. He would head to the post in the morning and deliver her there. Let the orcs and tauren deal with her then, and decide what to do with her. Going back to his own bag, he ignored whatever she was saying to him and began to set up camp. He built a fire and set up his bedding. He had some food stored in the bag as well, but he wasn't ready to cook it just yet.
Again heading for the water, he motioned for the raptor to be on guard, to attack anything that got too close, before he stripped himself of his armor and stepped into the water. He heard a startled shriek from the girl, and he grinned to himself. Was she really that innocent? Ah, she'd be fun to play with, if he were interested. As she had earlier, he began cleaning his body from the filth a days worth of battle and wandering had caused.
Lena's eyes widened as she stared open-mouthed at the troll. Had he no decency? No, of course he didn't, he was a troll. After all, he had barely bothered to cover her except with a blanket that barely stayed up, and now he was bathing nude in front of her. Vulgar, crude beast. Still, once the shock wore down, she had to admit he was finely built, for a troll. A lanky but strong build, and he was so incredibly tall when he stood up straight. She blushed as she realized she'd been staring at him, and turned her head away to look at the raptor, instead. Bright, blood red scales and savagely intelligent pale, silvery blue eyes. She shuddered and looked down, wondering what was to happen.
As the troll climbed out of the river, he dressed into a tunic, pants, and his mail chest piece, the majority of his armor set aside. He walked to the fire and began to prepare his meal. Lena trembled..
"Are you going to eat me?" she asked, frightened. He began to laugh, a deep rumble that echoed out into the encroaching night. When the laughter finally died, he looked at her, his amber eyes glinting with mischief and amusement.
"Oh, yeah, girlie, I be planning ta cut ya up and make a good meal out of you," he replied. At her look of terror, he laughed again. "No, silly girl. My tribe don' be cannibals anymore. We don' eat people no more, Thrall don' like it and da orcs be our friends. Learn da difference 'tween the troll tribes, girlie, before ya open ya big mouth again. Ya might've made another troll angry, saying dat."
Lena winced and ducked her head. Several minutes passed, and he sat back to eat. She looked at him, her stomach growling. But she refused to ask for food. "What's going to happen to me?" she asked quietly.
He paused his meal, and looked at her. "I be takin' ya to da post in da mornin', and handin' ya over to da guards. Dey'll probably ask ya questions. If yer as innocent as I t'ink ya are, dey might let ya go a bit down the road, towards Astranaar. If ya be knowing t'ings ya shouldn't be, well, den I suppose you'll be in some sort of trouble. Pity if dat happens, girlie. G'luck if it does," he told her. She bit her lip.
"I don't know anything, honest. I didn't know I was that close to the post... I wandered off the path, a spider attacked... and then I got lost. I swear!" she said. He shook his head.
"ya innocence ain't for me to decide, girlie. But dun worry, da orcs and tauren aren't as bad as ya t'ink. Dey'll prob'ly let ya go, so calm down an' go to sleep," he said. Finishing his food, he hesitated and glanced at her. He'd heard her stomach growl, and not wanting to be a complete ass to her, he picked up a piece of meat and held it out to her. She turned her face away, eying him suspiciously. He rolled his eyes. "iI'd be stupid to take ya prisoner, and poison ya, girlie," he said. She hesitated, then leaned her head forward to take a bite. He continued holding the food out to her as she ate it, then went to his bedding and laid down, eyes closing.
Lena watched as the troll fell asleep, his chest rising and falling slowly. Even the raptor appeared to be dozing off, crouched in place as it was and eyes half-lidded. However, the tension in both hunter and pet told her that should something come, they'd be instantly ready for battle. The soldiers in her home of Theramore had been the same way when they first had landed in Dustwallow Marsh, ready for battle even in sleep. Her father had once commented that a good fighter slept with one eye open.
She shivered and tried to get warm with just the blanket half covering her. She began to doze, jerking awake throughout the night to try and get comfortable again. Halfway through the night, she awoke to see the troll standing over her. She cowered back, seeing the knife in his hands. It wasn't until she felt the slack in the ropes, and him picking her up, that she realized he'd freed her from the tree, if not her hands. Setting her down on the bedding and wrapping the blanket around her. He joined her, pulling his own blanket over them both. Before she could say anything, to protest or thank him, his eyes were closed again, one arm around her tightly to prevent her escape.
She squirmed slightly, feeling uncomfortable in her nudity and his close proximity. After a few moments, she heard him chuckle. "Ya shouldn't be so worried, little one. I ain't interested in a little girl like ya; if I wanted a female, I could find a strong troll warrior woman, not some magic-using, weak girl barely out of childhood," he said, opening an eye to look at her. She blushed and glared at him.
"I'm not weak, I haven't been a child for a few years now... and how did you know I use magic?" she demanded. He grinned.
"Ya skin is pale, so ya don' come outside often," he said, then poked her arm. "And ya don' have much muscle, so ya not even a rogue, and I saw that ya got no scars, so ya definitely young and still weak. Ya wore a robe, so ya do magic," he said, then yawned. She blushed again, realizing how much of her he'd seen. "Ya best be in a town, reading, and let da adventurein' to da warriors, or next time ya might get hurt," he told her. She scowled and began to protest, but he was asleep again. She wouldn't leave the adventuring to others, ever. She wanted to see and know and learn for herself, not hear grand stories from others.
She stayed awake staring at him, her eyes wide as she studied the troll up close. His skin was blue, and reminded her of the Night Elves of the forest, and of her friend, Nareeka Wolfsong, whose skin was purple. His hair was wild and a dark, almost black blue. And one of his tusks brushed against her face, sharp and thick. She should be afraid, and yet she felt warm and oddly safe. If anything came to attack, both he and the raptor would protect her, even if in the morning she would be handed over to the orc guards. The warmth of the two blankets and from the troll finally, after an hour of wide-eyed staring, lulled her into sleep.
She awoke abruptly in the morning to the movement of the troll. He'd woken up before her, although how he'd moved without waking her the first time, she wasn't sure. He was packing up both his bag and hers, and had pulled out a cloak. It was his tossing the cloak on her that had awakened her, and she struggled to sit up with her hands bound. The fire was extinguished and covered with dirt, the food packed away, and the troll was pushing her off the bedding as he packed it. He was dressed in his armor again, and when he finished, he looked down at her. Studying her for a moment, he whistled, and a larger raptor than the red one appeared nearby. She stared in awe at this raptor, for it was blue and green, and armored., with saddle and reins.
"ya be walkin' to da post, girlie. My mount can walk slow enough that ya shouldn't get dragged along too badly," he said before kneeling down and helping her standing. Using the cut rope from the tree, he tied her hands to the saddle of the raptor, so she couldn't try fleeing. Taking the blankets from her and packing them away, he used the cloak and tied it around her. It would cover most of her until they reached the post, and if she needed clothes after that, the orcs and tauren could take care of it.
Attaching the bags to his mount, he climbed on and whistled for his pet. The red raptor came over to him, and he leaned down to pat its head before sending it off. It would hunt in the area for its meal, but stay close enough to come when called for. Signaling for his mount to start walking, he tugged on the robe and Lena began walking beside him. The trees were old and big enough to not be too close together, and so she didn't have to worry about getting scratched too badly as they walked. Still, she'd have preferred better covering or a ride on the raptor to this, half naked walking.
They headed towards the post in silence, for anything Lena tried asking was ignored by the troll, who was alert. Not that many things out here were a threat to him, but it was a habit from his own adventures throughout the world.. Finally reaching the road and seeing the post in the distance, he turned to Lena. "Ya should be safe, girlie. I really dun t'ink ya be a threat. Da tauren are peaceful enough, dey'll prob'y let ya go safe, so ya can stop worryin'," he told her. She looked up at him, but he wasn't facing her, waving a hand out to the guards that were looking their direction. "Yo, mon! I gota prisoner for ya!" he called out to them. Lena shrank back as one of the guards walked over to them, a savage looking orc.
"Where'd you find her?" the guard asked, and Lena turned to face the raptor-mount, hiding from him. It wasn't that she was afraid of orcs, or even hated them. Her father had fought in the Third war, and had told her that the orcs had allied with the humans against the demons, and that Jaina Proudmoore herself was allies with Thrall, even if it was an uneasy alliance due to old hatreds. She didn't loath them, but she was still frightened, and still naked.
"She was in da river south o' here. I t'ink she was lost, but I brought her anyways," Jang'Ai told him. The guard nodded, and reached for the rope. Suddenly panicking, Lena reached her bound hands up to clutch at Jang'Ai's leg.
"Lena Morgan. My name, is Lena Morgan. Please... remember it?" she begged, her eyes wide and pleading. He frowned and looked down at her.
"Why, girlie? Why ya want me ta be knowin' ya name?" he asked. She gave a lopsided little smile.
"It's a human thing, I guess. We live such short lives, so our immortality comes from the legacy we leave behind. ...In case something does happen, I at least want someone to know my name, even if... it's just a troll who found me in a river," she said sheepishly. He was silent a moment, looking down at her, then he nodded.
"Alright... Lena. And I be Jang'Ai, should we ever cross paths again, little one. But I t'ink you'll be safe," he said as he handed her bag to the guard, then sent the raptor forward towards the flight master. He had other tasks to do today, and was sure the name of a frightened young human girl, Lena Morgan, would be swept away with time.
Lena watched Jang'Ai leave, and the guard escorted her towards the post. She saw orcs and tauren, some trolls and even a goblin, working in the small area. She didn't understand what was said as her escort handed her over to one of the tauren, but she doubted it mattered. What would matter was what was asked of her, and she hoped she would be allowed to continue living. And, oddly enough, she hoped to see Jang'Ai again someday.
Nareeka Wolfsong walked along the road heading east, towards Raynewood Retreat, feeling worry gnaw at her. She'd received a letter from little Lena, saying the young human girl was heading to Astranaar, days ago, and had gone to meet her. The innkeeper had said she'd seen the dark-haired human girl, but that she'd gone out exploring the forest against her warnings. Nareeka had been worried then, but had allowed the girl a few days to explore for herself. After all, she knew just how curious the human could be, and she had felt that other sentinels would watch after her, as they watched over the entire forest. But it had been several days now, and no sign of her young friend.
She had head out, first checking in at Silverwind Refuge, where she had recently been stationed to help guard the denizens, but none of her fellow elves had seen the human. They promised to keep an eye out and send out a searching party, and she had once again gone to the road. She now would search Raynewood Retreat, and gain the aid of the druids and dryads there, if necessary.
She stopped as her long ears heard movement ahead of her. Unsheathing her sword, she stalked forward, preparing for battle. It could be merely an animal on the road, or one of the twisted furblogs, but her instinct told her it was one of the Horde, and that could very well mean a spy or someone from the Lumber Camp. If it was, she'd take great pleasure in riding the world of one more threat to her beloved Ashenvale.
Further along the road, she saw a form lying upon the stones and two figures riding off, mounted on wolves. Racing forward, she knelt and saw the thick black hair of her human friend. "Lena?" she asked, searching for a sign of life. The girl opened her pale blue eyes, and after a moment of surprise, reached up to embrace her friend. Nareeka wrapped an arm around the human, and looked down the road after the orcs. She couldn't both give chase, and see that her friend was taken to safety. She'd allow them life today, for there would always be time, and she doubted that she could keep up with the wolves they road.
"Oh, Nareeka, it's so good to see you!" Lena said as she pulled herself up. The Night Elf set down her sword and began checking over the human, searching for wounds or sign that the orcs had attacked her. There were none. She sat back, and looked at the girl.
"What happened to you, Lena?" she asked, her silver eyes gazing steadily at the girl. Lena fidgeted.
"I got too close to the Horde post, I guess. They captured me, questioned me... a tauren female did, anyways. She was awfully nice, for a Horde. And... I guess they decided I wasn't a threat? They gave me a drink, I passed out, and I woke up... here," she said, looking around. Still in Ashenvale, but on the road this time. Nareeka frowned. She wasn't surprised to hear of a friendly tauren, as they were mostly peaceful, but she was surprised that they hadn't killed Lena,.
"I see. Why did you not wait for me, Lena?" she asked. Lena smiled sheepishly.
"Well, I got curious about the forest, and wanted to see a moonwell. The sentinels said it would be a day or two before you arrived, so... I decided to go out and explore by myself. I got lost..." she said, looking down. Nareeka shook her head and allowed herself a smile. It wasn't unusual, actually, for the human girl to get curious, wander off, and then find herself lost; her mind was always elsewhere, going over her magic. Not that Nareeka approved of the arcane magic the girl wielded, but she liked the girl too much to object.
"Come, Lena. I'll take you back to Astranaar. And you wanted to go see Darnassus as well, did you not?" she asked. Lena's face lit up, and she nodded. Nareeka helped the girl stand and shouldered the bag that lay nearby. "You will love the City, it is quite beautiful. More so than your human town, in Dustwallow Marsh," she said as they walked down the road.. The two had met in Theramore, when Nareeka had been asked to deliver a package to the humans from one of her superiors in Darnassus. She had met the girl, three years ago, as she wandered into the marsh and got lost. They had befriended each other when Nareeka had escorted the girl back to the town, and had been enchanted with her enthusiasm. Even the constant questions about her homeland hadn't bothered her, and she had stayed longer in the town than intended, telling her stories.
It had surprised Nareeka when, in one of their frequent letters to each other, the girl had decided to come to the Night Elf lands and see her homeland for herself. She still considered Lena that young girl, just on the verge of adolescence, not the young woman she saw before her. Still, the girl was much younger than her and still just a child by Night Elf standards. She didn't think Lena was ready for adventuring out into the world, but apparently her parents had thought otherwise, and there was little Nareeka could do except to protect her, and keep her safe. Until Lena decided to leave and head home, Nareeka intended to stay by her side, guarding her young friend.